Facilities

Crypto Control: Action Plan

Guidelines to follow if facing a crypto event.

It’s vital that pool operators develop action plans to respond immediately if health officials announce an outbreak or increase in crypto cases. Here are some guidelines.

Before

• Strive to exceed all guidelines for water quality and sanitization. If applicable, consider adding supplemental disinfection or other measures known to destroy crypto, such as regular hyperchlorination.

• Establish and enforce healthy swimming behavior rules. This includes firm diarrhea-exclusion policies for patrons as well as staff.

• Get to know local health officials and keep them apprised of any updated information. Also maintain contact information for other local aquatics operators.

• Educate your staff and establish a culture that allows lifeguards with diarrhea to feel comfortable coming forward. Also train all employees to enforce healthy swimming behaviors and prevention strategies.

• Push the healthy swimming message. Work with public relations experts, health officials and other local aquatics operators to develop and distribute information on crypto and safe swimming practices.

• Stay informed. Keep up to date on any outbreaks in your region and make sure your staff and supervisors also are aware.

• Develop a crisis communication strategy that includes protocols for informing media and patrons. Coordinate with supervisors, public relations staff and other stakeholders, and train your staff on plan execution.

During

• Stay in regular contact with health officials and other operators to collaborate on a response.

• Implement intensified crypto-response control measures. This should include an initial hyperchlorination as recommended by the CDC and possibly regular hyperchlorination (weekly). Health officials also may recommend additional actions, such as suspending programming.